with the fiscal cliff will last. if it's short and we get a resolution, i think we will avoid a recession. if it takes months to figure out, then i think in a slow-growth economy we could get into recession territory pretty easily without some certainty. >> but as you know, we're going to be -- even if we get a deal, we will be hearing reports on quarterly earnings in the next couple of weeks. we will be hearing from c.e.o.'s that will be talking about their out look and with all of the uncertainty probably we will be getting a lot of gloomy news. they can't be helping investor confidence, right? >> right. that's true. if we don't have some certainty on the fiscal cliff, if we don't have resolution to that, i think you're right. in that c.e.o.'s probably will remain fairly conservative in their out look and that probably won't be good for the market. but if we do get resolution, i think c.e.o.'s by nature tend to be optimistic people, and if there's some resolution and they know what the rules of engagement are, they